PATH [to 3 May 2014]
[website issue]
Retweeted by PATH
GAVI Alliance @GAVIAlliance Apr 29
.@PATHtweets and @GAVIAlliance are working together to bring ROTAVAC to more countries. #vaccineswork http://bit.ly/1hqi7nY
Retweeted by PATH
PATH Advocacy @PATHadvocacy Apr 28
Country ownership and supporting policies necessary to sustain vaccines once introduced – @DrMartinCDC #vaccineswork pic.twitter.com/eqMf6RD1Z3
SOS-Kinderdorf International [to 3 May 2014]
Lugansk, Ukraine: Unrest Affecting SOS Children´s Village
SOS children, families safe. But movements are restricted.
30 April 2014
Fresh episodes of separatist unrest have been reported this morning in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk, where SOS Children’s Villages has a presence. SOS children, co-workers and families are staying at home for safety, until further notice…
Children and the Post-2015 Development Agenda
In an exclusive round-table meeting at the UN on post-2015 development, SOS Children´s Villages CEO Richard Pichler argued that issues related to children should receive direct and powerful attention – and ambitions should be high.
Excerpt
(New York) – On 8 April 2014 a select group of ambassadors and CEOs from the leading child-focused NGOs were invited to a meeting at the United Nations to discuss the post-2015 agenda. SOS Children´s Villages CEO Richard Pichler was among the participants calling for children to be placed at the centre.
As 2015 marks the final year of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and also the year that post-2015 development frameworks will be decided, priority setting is already well-underway. SOS Children´s Villages is leveraging its vast experience in caring for the most vulnerable children to influence the orientation of development policy and to advocate for the rights and welfare of the child at risk.
At the meeting Mr Pichler stressed the importance of eradicating child poverty. He reasoned that discrimination against children cannot be addressed by targets and interventions alone; a comprehensive plan and multi-pronged approach are necessary to get at the root causes of child suffering.
He listed some of the biggest issues concerning children´s well-being, including hunger; stunted growth; newborn, child and maternal mortality; lack of universal access to health services and education; and violence against children. As serious and widespread as these issues still are, the SOS Children´s Villages CEO said he believes it is possible to resolve them in the next 30-40 years – if the right actions are taken today and prioritised in the post-2015 goals and targets.
“Children only have 10-12 years of childhood… we’ll miss their future if we do not address the issues that concern their well-being today,” he said.
Mr Pichler also stressed that while addressing child rights adequately in the post-2015 development framework will cost trillions, not addressing them will be even more costly, as the damage caused will be irreversible and draining on public services, and lost opportunity costs will be even higher….
…Based on over 60 years of experience and operations in 133 countries, SOS Children’s Villages strongly believes these recommendations will make the post-2015 agenda a solid foundation for sustainable development.
Download SOS Children´s Villages´Proposal of Targets for a Post-2015 Framework tgat Leaves No One Behind.
Children’s Villages @sos4children Apr 29
What happens to children when they leave an SOS Children’s Village? Find out how we support young people http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/sponsor-a-child/life-in-a-childrens-village/after-childrens-village …
SOS Children USA @SOSChildrenUSA • May 1
We are so PUMPED to be featuring the #SOSfamily on instagram! We’ll be posting pictures from around… http://instagram.com/p/nd1WA2PUoY/
Tostan [to 3 May 2014]
May 1, 2014
Continued celebrations for the National Day for Talibé
On April 27th, the Federation of Associations of Ndéyous Daaras in Thiès, Senegal committed to building 12 new kitchens called ‘wagnou daaras’ (daara kitchens) in Koranic schools at a celebration event in honor of the National Day for Talibé the previous week.
The Federation of Associations of Ndéyous Daaras was formed by a group of Ndéyous Daaras, or volunteer caretakers for talibés, from 12 Koranic schools who participated in Tostan’s Community Empowerment Program (CEP) until 2003. They led initiatives to protect children as coordinators of their Community Management Committees (CMCs) and later federated to continue their work…
Tostan @Tostan May 2
17 students attended a @Tostan seminar on childhood dev & learned how to share this knowledge http://bit.ly/1nPVbGX pic.twitter.com/91hTmA2MBS
Tostan @Tostan May 1
Join 5/7 at 1pm EDT for the #HLTNchat w/ @Tostan’s @MollyMelching, author @aimeenmolloy, & @SkollFoundation #HLTN pic.twitter.com/qYyh5noghx
Women for Women International [to 3 May 2014]
Women for Women Intl @WomenforWomen May 2
#WfWI Country Director, Ngozi Eve, discusses the kidnapping of over 200 girls in #Nigeria. @WBEZ #BringBackOurGirls http://ow.ly/wq1m3
Women for Women Intl @WomenforWomen Apr 23
#DidYouKnow: Last month in #Rwanda, there were a total of 10,465 active #women enrolled in our one-year program #WfWI http://ow.ly/w5G72
United Nations – Selected Meetings Coverage and Press Releases [to 3 May 2014]
http://www.un.org/en/unpress/
Meetings
South Sudan Risks Spiralling Out of Control amid Revenge Killings, Human Rights Abuses, Impending Famine, Security Council Warned (2 May 2014)
SC/11378
Diplomatic Solution Only Way Out, as Situation in Ukraine Deteriorates, Under-Secretary-General Tells Security Council (2 May 2014)
SC/11377
Israelis, Palestinians Face ‘Difficult Choices’ Following Suspension of Peace Talks, Special Coordinator Tells Security Council (29 April 2014)
SC/11373
United Nations Remains ‘Repository’ of Information for Advancing Humanity’s Cause, Under-Secretary-General Says, as Committee Concludes General Debate (29 April 2014)
PI/2086
Department Deploying All Efforts to Support United Nations Peace Efforts across Africa, Under-Secretary-General Tells Committee on Information (28 April 2014)
PI/2085
Press Releases
Right of Expression ‘Vital for Human Dignity, Social Progress’, Stresses Secretary-General, UNESCO Chief in World Press Freedom Day Message (2 May 2014)
Following is a joint message by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Director-General Irina Bokova on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, under the theme “Media Freedom for a Better Future: Shaping the Post-2015 Development Agenda”, to be observed on 3 May:
SG/2205-OBV/1329-PI/2090
Secretary-General Reappoints Anthony Lake Executive Director of United Nations Children’s Fund (2 May 2014)
SG/A/1463-ICEF/1880
Post-2015 Accountability System Must Be Integrated into Governments Actions, Secretary-General Tells General Assembly Event (1 May 2014)
SG/SM/15812-GA/11505-DEV/3086
Secretary-General Hails Timely Progress towards Polls in Iraq, Condemns Violence Targeting Leaders, Candidates, Electoral Staff (29 April 2014)
SG/SM/15805-IK/666
Secretary-General Appoints Jacques Rogge of Belgium Special Envoy for Youth Refugees and Sport (28 April 2014)
SG/A/1459-DEV/3084
Secretary-General, Marking Anti-Proliferation Text’s Anniversary, Says Weapons of Mass Destruction Have No Role in Modern World (28 April 2014)
SG/SM/15800-DC/3494
UNICEF [to 3 May 2014]
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_71508.html
Media Releases [selected]
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reappoints Anthony Lake Executive Director of UNICEF
UNITED NATIONS, 2 May 2014 – Following consultations with the UNICEF Executive Board, the Secretary-General is pleased to reappoint Mr. Anthony Lake as Executive Director of UNICEF.
UNICEF chief praises and calls for more progress for disadvantaged children in Bolivia
LA PAZ, Bolivia, 2 May 2014 – UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake travelled to Bolivia this week to meet with children, families and government officials, to advocate for further progress in overcoming Bolivia’s historic inequities.
UNICEF condemns latest attacks on children in Syria
AMMAN, 30 April 2014 – UNICEF is outraged by the latest wave of indiscriminate attacks perpetrated against schools and other civilian targets across Syria which left dozens of children killed and injured.
UNICEF condemns attack on health facility, killing of aid staff in Central African Republic
DAKAR, Senegal/BANGUI, Central African Republic, 29 April 2014 – “UNICEF is outraged by the attack on a health centre that killed 22 civilians, including three aid workers with the medical humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), in the northern town of Boguila, Central African Republic, on Saturday 26 April.
Progress made for children in Peru, but equity gap remains visible, says UNICEF chief
LIMA, Peru, 28 April 2014 – UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake travelled to Peru this week where he met with children, community members, government officials and civil society partners to see how education, health and social protection programmes are bridging the equity gap between indigenous and non-indigenous children.
UNOCHA [to 3 May 2014]
http://www.unocha.org/
Press Releases
02 May 2014
World: Innovation Contest for World Humanitarian Summit Regional Consultation for West and Central Africa
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: World The OCHA Regional Office for West and Central Africa invites nominations for its Humanitarian Innovation Contest ahead of the June 2014 Regional Consultation in preparation of the World Humanitarian Summit. The contest is for humanitarian projects and initiatives, ongoing or under development, in the West and Central Africa Region that use an innovative approach to improve the efficiency of humanitarian response….
02 May 2014
Central African Republic: Statement on behalf of the Humanitarian Coordinator Claire Bourgeois on the killing of a UNHCR Staff
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Central African Republic (Bangui, 02 May 2014): The Senior Humanitarian Coordinator (SHC) in the Central African Republic, Claire Bourgeois condemns fervidly the killing of one staff member of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The attack took place on 01 May, close to Bangui. “I express my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the victim. I am also deeply saddened by the ongoing loss of civilian…
02 May 2014
Afghanistan: Landslides in Argo, Badakhshan – Statement Attributable to Mr. Mark Bowden, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Afghanistan Kabul, 2 May, 2014: A series of heavy rain induced landslides struck in the Argo district of Badakhshan in northeastern Afghanistan causing significant loss of life and widespread damage to homes and agriculture. Provincial authorities report that more than 350 Afghans have been killed, more are still missing and many families have been displaced. Mark Bowden, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator said: “On behalf…
02 May 2014
Afghanistan: UN deputy humanitarian chief to visit Afghanistan and Pakistan
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Afghanistan, Pakistan WHO: Kyung-Wha Kang, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator WHAT: Visit to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan WHEN: 3-8 May 2014 WHERE: Kabul and Hirat (Herat) (Afghanistan), Islamabad and Peshawar (Pakistan) UN Deputy Humanitarian Chief Kyung-Wha Kang will visit…
01 May 2014
Mali: Humanitarian response in the Sahel faces critical funding gap
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal (Dakar, 30 April 2014): Humanitarian operations in the Sahel require urgent funding to help vulnerable communities prepare a successful agricultural season and deliver live-saving food aid in the coming months. “We are facing a funding bottleneck at a very critical moment. The planting season is only a couple of months away,” said Robert…
01 May 2014
Mali: La réponse humanitaire au Sahel confrontée à un manque de financement
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal (Dakar, 30 avril 2014) : Un financement urgent est nécessaire pour les opérations humanitaires dans le Sahel, afin d’aider les communautés vulnérables à se préparer à une bonne campagne agricole et de fournir une assistance alimentaire vitale dans les prochains mois. « Nous sommes confrontés à un réel problème de financement à un moment très…
01 May 2014
Sudan: Statement attributable to the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Mr Ali Al-Za’tari, on influx of refugees from South Sudan in the Abyei area
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Sudan, South Sudan Khartoum, 30 April 2014. The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Mr. Ali Al-Za’tari, expressed concern over an increasing number of people from South Sudan seeking refuge in the Abyei area. Over the past few days, at least 3,000 people have arrived in a number of locations in Abyei after fleeing violence in Unity State, South Sudan. These newly arrived people from South Sudan…
01 May 2014
Sudan: Darfur: New Humanitarian Needs and Aid Delivery Fact Sheet, 29 April 2014
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Sudan The new wave of insecurity and violence across Darfur has generated enormous additional humanitarian needs since late February 2014. Hostilities and violence involving Government forces supported by the Rapid Support Force, a Government-affiliated militia, armed movements and armed tribal militia in Darfur have spread across much of North and South Darfur, with some spillover effects to Central, West and East Darfur…
30 Apr 2014
Syrian Arab Republic: Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos Statement to the Media on Syria
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Syrian Arab Republic NEW YORK, 30 APRIL 2014 As delivered Good afternoon and thank you everyone. It is now two months since Resolution 2139 was adopted. As you know, the Secretary-General presented his report to the Council last week. It makes very grim reading. Far from getting better, the situation is getting worse. Violence has intensified over the past month, taking a horrific toll on ordinary Syrians. In the past…
29 Apr 2014
South Sudan: South Sudan Aid Chief Calls for One Month of Tranquility
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sudan Country: South Sudan Juba, 29 April 2014: “I call on all parties to the conflict in South Sudan to observe one month of tranquility this May; to stop the violence and to provide a safe environment for civilians caught by the conflict at this most crucial time of the year. I am calling for one month of tranquility for two reasons. First, stopping the fighting and ensuring…
WHO & Regionals [to 3 May 2014]
http://www.who.int/en/
GPEI Update: Polio this week – As of 30 April 2014
Global Polio Eradication Initiative
Full report: http://www.polioeradication.org/Dataandmonitoring/Poliothisweek.aspx
[Editor’s extract and bolded text]
:: The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, is convening an Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations to advise on whether the current developments on the spread of poliovirus constitute a public health emergency of international concern and, if so, whether temporary recommendations are needed to reduce the risk and consequences of international spread. The Committee began consultations on 28 April 2014, and is expected to deliberate for several days.
GIN
April 2014
Oral Cholera Vaccine stockpile campaign amongst Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in South Sudan
Stephen Martin, WHO Headquarters
[Full text]
The first use of the global oral cholera vaccine (OCV) stockpile, created in 2013, under the management of the Inter-national Coordinating Group (ICG) recently deployed 252,000 doses of vaccine to South Sudan.
The mandate for the OCV stockpile is primarily for cholera outbreaks but will also consider vaccine requests for humanitarian crisis response.
As a result of recent conflict in South Sudan (December 2013), population displacement occurred, internally as IDPs and externally as refugees. Many of the IDPs are living in Protection of Civilian (POCs) areas within the United Nations Mission to South Sudan (UNMISS) compounds. Living conditions for the IDPs have deteriorated below international standards, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases including cholera. These conditions are anticipated to deteriorate further with the onset of seasonal rains.
A risk assessment completed by WHO CO concluded that the combination of historical outbreaks, the living conditions and the forthcoming rains placed the IDPs at an increased risk of cholera. At the request of the Ministry of Health, WHO facilitated the deployment of vaccine to the country.
The vaccine arrived in country on 22 February 2014. Over the following 38 days, two implementing partners MedAir and Medecins sans Frontiers have completed 3 campaigns in separate IDP locations, Mingkaman, Tomping and UN House delivering 132,925 doses. The vaccine regime requires two doses given as a single dose two weeks apart. Hygiene messaging was given with the vaccine. In Mingkaman the second dose was co-administered with Meningococcal A conjugate vaccine. Further campaigns are anticipated.
As a new public health intervention to complement established cholera prevention and control measures, greater frequency of use of the vaccine stockpile will increase awareness and acceptability while at the same time providing evidence to demonstrate the full public health potential of this intervention.
http://www.who.int/immunization/GIN_April_2014.pdf?ua=1
WHO: Experts probe Middle-Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
2 May 2014
Excerpt
A team of experts from WHO started a two-day mission yesterday in Jeddah to assist national health authorities to investigate the recent increase in number of people infected by MERS-CoV.
From mid-March 2014, 111 people have tested positive in the Jeddah area; the biggest single surge in the MERS-CoV outbreak since the new virus was detected in April 2012. Thirty-one persons have died.
As a large proportion of infections in Jeddah occurred in health-care facilities, the WHO team began with analyzing transmission patterns in the city’s main hospitals.
“We need to understand how people got infected in health-care settings, and in the community; we are looking into possible infection routes and whether the virus has changed its ability to more easily infect people,” says Dr Jaouad Mahjour, WHO Team Leader, “but we know that the systematic application of basic infection prevention and control measures in health facilities is key to limiting transmission and protecting health-care workers and other patients.”
Following the confirmation of the first cases, health facilities increased laboratory testing of patients, close contacts and health-care workers and strengthened protective measures. One third of the people tested positive in the recent spate of cases are health-care workers with mild or no symptoms.
“Our priority is to stop the transmission inside the hospital by strengthening infection prevention and control activities,” says Dr Mohammed Al Ghamdi, an Infectious Disease Consultant at the King Fahd Hospital, the city’s main general hospital – where 78 people have tested positive so far. “WHO is helping us in getting answers on transmission routes not only in health facilities, but also in the community.”…
http://www.who.int/features/2014/saudi-arabia-coronavirus/en/
UNDP United Nations Development Program [to 3 May 2014]
http://www.us.undp.org/content/undp/en/home.html
04 May 2014
Helen Clark: Statement at the Abu Dhabi Ascent: Conference In Support Of the UN Climate Summit 2014
With strong partnerships, there is good potential to make a big breakthrough on curbing deforestation. Recent announcements by governments and the private sector pave the way, and I hope will inspire others to act. We must act on our conviction that it is possible to increase inclusive growth and improve local livelihoods, while forests are kept standing and contributing to climate change mitigation and maintaining biodiversity. Through REDD+ and with the support of all stakeholders, we CAN achieve these goals simultaneously.
01 May 2014
Sierra Leone launches vast youth plan to create 1 million new jobs and expand higher education
Sierra Leone has unveiled a USD 217 million plan to create one million new jobs by 2018. The initiative also aims to provide access to secondary and higher education to 300,000 new students over the next three years.
28 Apr 2014
Helen Clark: Speech at the 2014 EU High Level Resilience Forum
Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator
at the 2014 EU High Level Resilience Forum
28 April 2014, 9am to 10.15am
Brussels, Belgium
Excerpt
Thank you, Commissioner Georgieva, for inviting me to speak at the first EU High Level Forum on Resilience.
As a development organization, UNDP is very aware of the highly detrimental impact which disasters and crises – both man-made and those due to natural hazards – have on local, national, and global development efforts. Too often we see decades of hard work and billions of dollars in investments washed away by a hurricane, leveled by an earthquake, or destroyed in a war…
…The increasing importance given to supporting countries and communities to build resilience to all types of risk, stems from this growing understanding that the issues of poverty, crisis, and conflict are intertwined.
The EU’s Joint Instruction Letter on Resilience defines resilience as the “ability of an individual, a household, a community, a country or a region to withstand, to adapt, and to quickly recover from stresses and shocks”. This resonates with UNDP’s own understanding of resilience. Our approach also emphasizes the importance of transforming the structures and systems which repeatedly perpetuate fragility and undermine resilience.
External shocks can open up the space required to initiate transformation, but only if opportunities to negotiate a different, more inclusive, and fairer future, and lay the foundations for political, institutional, social and economic reform, are seized. With this definition in mind, forward momentum and action will depend on three components: the three 3Cs of commitment, collaboration, and clarity.
I have been particularly impressed by how swiftly the EU has been able to generate the first – namely, commitment and buy-in from its Member States. Engagement of key constituencies in capitals has helped secure the high level political commitment required to be an effective partner to crisis-affected populations in high-risk contexts..
28 Apr 2014
Advisory Committee calls on UNDP to address inequalities and enabling environment
The 11th annual meeting of the UNDP Civil Society Advisory Committee concluded last week following critical discussions on the new UNDP strategic plan, UNDP’s engagement with Civil Society at national and regional levels and the challenges and opportunities of the post-2015 development framework.
UN Women [to 3 May 2014]
http://www.unwomen.org/
Stories of survivors portrayed by journalists in Georgia
Posted on May 1, 2014
Ahead of World Press Freedom Day, a story from Georgia, where actors and playwrights are using interactive verbatim theatre to perform real-life stories produced by journalists trained at a UN Women workshop on gender-sensitive reporting.
Press Release: New research reveals violence against women in politics rampant in South Asia
Posted on April 30, 2014
Violence against women in politics is rampant in South Asia according to a new study conducted by the Centre for Social Research and UN Women. The study, ‘Violence against Women in Politics’ revealed that the insufficient implementation of laws, lack of support from police and judiciary, the socio-economic divide and current power structures are the major reasons for violence.
Press Release: “We Just Keep Silent”: A report on gender-based violence among Syrian refugees in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Posted on April 28, 2014
UN Women has launched a new report on gender-based violence among Syrian refugees in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq which reveals increased levels of intimate partner violence, high levels of sexual harassment by employers and taxi drivers, and a significant number of reports of sexual commercial transactions inside and outside camps. Almost all men also reported feeling afraid for the safety of their wives and daughters….
“We Just Keep Silent” Report: http://uniraq.org/images/documents/We%20Just%20Keep%20Silent%20final%20English.pdf
UNFPA United Nations Population Fund [to 3 May 2014]
http://www.unfpa.org/public/
02 May 2014 – Statement
Statement for the International Day of the Midwife
Globally, in the past two decades, maternal death has declined by nearly half. In the same period, skilled birth attendance has increased by 15 per cent, with two out of three deliveries worldwide now attended by a skilled health professional. With just over 600 days left until the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) deadline, concerted efforts are required to scale up cost-effective interventions in educating midwives and other professionals with midwifery skills. more
01 May 2014 – Dispatch
Finding More Than Food at the Markets in Liberia
MONROVIA, Liberia – Every Thursday, 39-year-old Jartu Kollie walks several kilometres to the market in Pleemu Town, near the Liberian capital Monrovia. But this vibrant local market is not only a place where she can sell her products; it is also where she goes to access the family planning services that have saved her life. more
30 April 2014 – Dispatch
UNFPA Pacific Assists Mothers, Youth Displaced by Solomon Islands Flooding
HONIARA, Solomon Islands – By 11 am on 4 April, residents knew the Mataniko River might breach its banks in Honiara, capital of the Solomon Islands, but no one knew it would wash away their homes within the hour. More than four weeks later, most displaced people remain in evacuation centres. UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is providing humanitarian support for these families and others affected by the disaster. more
30 April 2014 – Press Release
260 parliamentarians from 6 continents reaffirm strong support for population, development agenda
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 28 April 2014 – At the sixth global parliamentarians’ conference on population and development, held in Stockholm from 23 to 25 April, parliamentarians from 134 countries issued their strongest call ever to implement the Programme of Action agreed to at the International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo in 1994. more
29 April 2014 – Press Release
More Support Needed to Save Lives of Women and Girls in South Sudan
JUBA, South Sudan – UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is calling for a sustained international community and donor support in South Sudan to ensure the safety and dignity of women and young girls who are mostly affected by the crisis. more
UNESCO [to 3 May 2014]
http://en.unesco.org/
5 May 2014
:: The UN General Assembly discusses Culture as an Enabler of Sustainable Development
:: UNESCO Signs Agreement with China’s Hisense Co. Ltd to Renew Equipment
:: Shared passions for World Press Freedom Day at UNESCO Bangkok event
:: Director-General awards UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize to Turkish journalist Ahmet Şık
:: Award ceremony of 2014 UNESCO Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture resounds with calls for cultural diversity and mutual respect
:: Knowledge-Based Economy Conference held in Riyadh
30 April 2014
:: The Future We Want: A Healthy Ocean for Prosperity in the Western Pacific
:: Voice of Jazz and Human Rights
:: Everybody on stage for International Jazz Day!
:: Gender awareness in media promoted in China thanks to IPDC project
:: Fighting HIV and AIDS: First UNESCO supported Codefest held in China
:: UNESCO literacy project in Senegal inspires other African countries
FAO Food & Agriculture Organization [to 3 May 2014]
http://www.fao.org/home/en/
Global recognition for traditional farming systems in China, Iran and South Korea
FAO urges further protection of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems for sustainability, food security, livelihoods and culture
1-05-2014
FAO and National Geographic announce collaboration exploring future of food
The National Geographic Society and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are teaming up to raise awareness on food and agriculture issues as National Geographic, a U.S.-based nonprofit institution, begins an eight-month, in-depth report on food issues starting with a May cover story in National Geographic magazine and online at NatGeoFood.com.
30-04-2014
FAO strikes media deal with International Federation of Agricultural Journalists
29-04-2014
UNCTAD [to 3 May 2014]
http://unctad.org/en/Pages/Home.aspx
02 May 2014 – Young entrepreneurs can unlock development potential for future generations, high-level panel from Africa tells UNCTAD Commission
01 May 2014 – Moldovan authorities unveil plans to increase FDI attractiveness
30 Apr 2014 – Mongolia Welcomes UNCTAD Report Recommending It Diversifies Foreign Investment Flows To Promote Sustainable Development
29 Apr 2014 – Bangladesh appreciates and takes note of UNCTAD recommendations to improve its FDI attractiveness and achieve sustainable development
CBD (Convention of Biological Diversity) [to 3 May 2014]
http://www.cbd.int/
2014-05-01
Four new ratifications edge landmark genetic resources treaty closer to entering into force
With four new ratifications in the last week, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization has received 66% of the necessary ratifications, with only 17 more ratifications needed for it to enter into force. Ratifications by Guyana, Hungary, Kenya and Vietnam bring to 33 the total number of ratifications to the ground-breaking treaty under the umbrella of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
[The full text of the Nagoya Protocol is available at: www.cbd.int/abs/doc/protocol/nagoya-protocol-en.pdf The list of signatories of the Nagoya Protocol is available at: www.cbd.int/abs/nagoyaprotocol/signatories/ ]
USAID [to 3 May 2014]
http://www.usaid.gov/
Press Releases
USAID Increases Support for Media and Press Freedom in Ukraine
Friday, May 2, 2014
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing an additional $1.25 million to the U-MEDIA program in Ukraine, a project of Internews and its Ukrainian partner organizations aimed at supporting Ukrainian media outlets as they prepare for the Ukrainian presidential election on May 25th. Members of the media in Ukraine have faced serious challenges and dangers over the past several months. More than 500 journalists have been harassed, beaten, abducted and one journalist killed, since November. Media outlets have been attacked and news-gathering equipment has been seized or destroyed
USAID Selects 2014 Payne Fellows
May 1, 2014
A distinguished panel, chaired by retired Senior Foreign Service Officer Wayne King, selected five 2014 USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Fellows. This selection followed a rigorous competition that included over 275 applicants from around the United States and the world. The panel reviewed their applications, selected 18 finalists, and conducted a three-day assessment, which included interviews, timed essays, and group exercises.
Impact Blog
Why Free Media Matters
May 2, 2014 — Mark Koenig
Media independence has been tied to social stability, improved governance and reduced corruption, better health outcomes, faster economic growth and fewer famines. USAID’s support of open media environments in 31 countries around the world is having real impact on the lives of real people.
The Syrian Conflict Through the Lens of Women and Girls
May 2, 2014 — Carla Koppell, Chief Strategy Officer and Allison Salyer, Gender Advisor, USAID Task Force on Syria
The crisis in Syria presents humanitarian, developmental and demographic challenges particularly for women and children, who have been exposed to serious risks while fleeing their homes, in camps, and in unfamiliar countries’ cities and towns. Two USAID leaders recently visited Jordan and Turkey..
DFID [to 3 May 2014]
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development
Greening: Afghanistan landslide relief underway
3 May 2014 DFID Press release
Britain’s top diplomats visited Somalia on 28th April
2 May 2014 DFID and FCO Press release
Alan Duncan urges young Scots to join fight against poverty
2 May 2014 DFID Press release
UK pledges support for Pakistan’s growth
1 May 2014 DFID Press release
British students challenged to ‘shape the future’
30 April 2014 DFID Press release
ECHO [to 3 May 2014]
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en.htm
Syria crisis: new refugee camp opens in Jordan
30/04/2014 – Three years into the Syrian conflict, Jordan officially opened a third refugee camp today to accommodate the never-ending flow of Syrians fleeing the violence.
EU hosts first-of-its-kind international forum on resilience
28/04/2014 – With the increase of natural and human-made crises worldwide, building the resilience of individuals and communities is of key importance. Today, the European Commission is opening its first edition of the ‘EU Resilience Forum’, bringing together experts from EU Member States; partner organisations such as the UN, Red Cross, the World Bank, NGOs and civil society; as well as donors including the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID). Participants will jointly assess the overall progress made to date, exchange best practices and lessons learnt, and outline a way to further reduce vulnerabilities in risk-prone environments.
Organised by the Commissions’ departments for Development and Cooperation (DEVCO) and Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO), the event will serve as catalyst for the global efforts to support people in areas facing recurrent disasters or conflicts – to prepare for, withstand and recover from stresses and shocks. Addressing root causes rather than dealing with their consequences lays the foundation for that approach.
The Commission is strongly committed to boosting the resilience of the most vulnerable. It has been instrumental in endeavours to break the vicious cycle of drought, hunger and poverty in regions like Africa – with the ‘Global Alliance for Resilience Initiative’ (AGIR) in the Sahel and West Africa and the ‘Supporting the Horn of Africa’s Resilience’ (SHARE) . The Commission’s Disaster Preparedness Programme (DIPECHO) has also proven successful in limiting damage when hazards strike. Furthermore, the recently adopted Communication on the post 2015 Hyogo Framework for Action sets a common EU position towards reducing the impact of natural and human-made crises across the globe.
Acting now to reduce future suffering and loss is vital – ethically correct and cost effective: investing €1 in preparedness can save up to €7 in response operations. In 2013, over 20% of the European Commission’s relief funding was used for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and two-thirds of all projects included DRR activities, reaching out 18 million people worldwide.
World Bank [to 3 May 2014]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
Extending Protection to the Poor Where the Needs are Greatest
Challenge The 2008-11 global economic crisis highlighted the importance of good social safety nets for reducing poverty and vulnerability. Countries with effective safety net programs used them to respond to the crises and disasters, while countries without such programs had to rely on ad hoc and less effective responses. Yet it is precisely in the poorest countries where the gap in the provision of SSNs is largest. In Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, four out of five poor families have no access to any safety nets program. However, it takes time and political will to build good safety nets. Crises or post-disaster situations are worst times to develop new safety nets. Effective and cost-effective programs need a process of refining and fine-turning systems and capacity. For countries that already have some programs in place the challenge is to overcome fragmentation, to integrate individual programs into coordinated, national systems. It is important to hold safety nets to high standard…
GE2P2 Global :: Knowledge Sharing; Ideas; Operations 